The gender role-based society I grew up in has taught me to value myself less than men. Through patterns and expectations, the Dutch society taught me that the biological sex you are born into is related to certain assumptions of how to behave and what to do. My intersectional identities mean that I acknowledge my privilege of being raised white and being born in a developed European country whilst at the same time experiencing the impact of these gender expectations whilst internalising the struggle that comes with it.

From childhood onwards I have rebelled against stereotypes; from being the only girl at soccer, to riding the motorcycle and working in male dominated industries. The result of this is me struggling with feeling acknowledged, accepted, and valued as equal. 

In this writing I explore how the contemporary context of women artists is shaped using feminist ideology and the concept of value across gendered labour. I understand this is not all inclusive and embedded in large social systems, however throughout this text you will see me navigating through historic patterns of behaviour, beliefs, and events to find an understanding for the position of women artists in the Netherlands.